SJFCC vs Archway Graces
2005-07-17. Loss by 40 runs By Dave Boxer
Result: Archway Graces, 205 for 6 from 35 overs; The Mighty Fishers, 165 for 9 from 32 overs.
A second dissapointing result on the bounce for Fishers, who must get their heads up and rediscover the passion that brought us 9 straight wins at the start of the season.
Dave again lost the toss and we were put in to field in the sweltering heat. Walmsleyeyey and Mao opened the bowling and made a solid enough start, but couldn’t find that piece of luck needed to make the breakthrough. On of the openers was a genuinely excellent player and played a beautiful innings, never panicking until he was eventually removed for 75 by Christie, who turned up an hour-and-a-half late because he has the directional sense of a lemming on crack.
Mao finally got the wicket he deserved in his final over, bowling the other opener for 26. Boxer then removed the no.3 in his first over thanks to an edge that flew to Martin’s right, which he took brilliantly diving and taking one-handed.
Bungle bowled excellently from the other end, restricting the run rate and giving the batsmen plenty to think about with his pace and accuracy. His endevour paid off when he removed the no.4, again thanks to a superb catch, this time by Big Malc, diving to his left in the slips.
The oppo held firm, however, and knocked another 50 runs before surrendering their 4th wicket, when Christie drew yet another edge which just about carried to Martin behind the sticks, who did well to take it low down in front.
Ethan then bowled a good 3 over spell and was very unlucky not to take any wickets, before Boxer came back on and bowled the no.6 for a duck.
205 was the target, and we made a good start, with Walmsleyeyey and Dawko batting well from the off. However, Dawko got a stinker of a delivery in the 9th over, that bounced up head high, forcing him to fend it off to gully, who took a comfortable catch.
Then, the worst thing that could have happened did, when Walmsleyeyey, who was batting brilliantly and was on 35, got a quick beamer by the same bowler. Despite fending it off, the ball trapped his thumb on the bat, breaking it and putting him out for the rest of the season. Get well soon Walmsleyeyey.
Magnet got a good start at no.3 but was caught and bowled for 12, and Mao, after two delightful straight drives for 4, was given out caught behind despite the ball hitting his pad.
Christie and Bullet now occupied the crease, and the former took time to get going. Bullet played on for 3, and Bungle followed him back to the pavillion for 16, made up of two fours, a two and tasty flat 6 pull shot.
Boxer departed for a duck after swinging and missing at the pie-chucker and being stumped, and Malcolm followed the next over, bowled by the man.
By this point, Chrisite was beginning to up the pace and had his eye in, turning 1s into 2s and hitting four 4s in quick succession.
He was running out of partners though, and Martin was the next victim, run out for 1. The final wicket stand was Christie and Ethan, and although Ethan did well to give the senior partner the strike, Chrisite lofted a pull shot high and handsome to the man on the leg side boundary and was caught, two shy of his 50.
Man of the match: Few outstanding performances to report. Walmsleyeyey batted extremely well but had to retire hurt, Boxer and Mao bowled well in spells, Bungle had a good 5 overs and Martin had a good game behind the sticks, but the award goes to Chrisite, who, despite being a muppet who can’t read maps, took two good wickets and batted steadily and sensibly for 48.
